Acoustical apparatus



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soLznow 'vALva Patented Mar. 31, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ACOUSTICAL APPARATUS Clarence R. Jacobs, Scarsdale, N. Y.

Application ySeptember 24, 1940, Serial No. 358,179

9 Claims.

This invention relates to sound control or acoustical apparatus for use primarily in radio broadcasting studios, recording studios, theatres, and analogous sound chambers. More particularly, the invention is concerned with acoustical apparatus of the type utilizing rotatable acoustical vanes or panels adapted to be opened and closed varying degrees to expose a sound absorbing surface in rear thereof and Vary the reverberation time of the studio, as shov'vn and described in my copending application, Serial No. 213,710 filed November 9, 1939, now Patent No. 2,224,651.

It is extremely important that absolute quiet prevail throughout a studio during broadcasting. and furthermore that there be no radio interference due to the proximity of electric motors and other operating parts.

The present invention has for an object to provide acoustical apparatus and operating means therefor which will operate With a complete absence of noise, and wherein also the tendency toward radio interference or disturbance is materially reduced, and, in fact, substantially eliminated.

Another object is to provide acoustical apparatus of the type employing rotatable vanes or acoustical elements wherein the operating mechanism for adjusting said vanes to varying positions may be readily controlled from a central point quietly and efficientlyy and with complete safety against breakage or damage to Valuable parts.

A further object is to generally improve and simplify acoustical apparatus of the movable vane or panel type.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a radio broadcasting studio embodying sound control apparatus constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan View of a corner portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View in sectional elevation of the lower extremity of one of the vanes of Fig. 2 and the operating mechanism therefor;

Figs. 4 and 5 are views in sectional elevation taken respectively on the lines 4 4 and 5 5, Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a View in sectional plan of another corner portion of Fig. 1 illustrating the operat- 55 ing mechanism for vanes of the overlapping type;

Fig. 7 is a detailed view in sectional elevation of the lower extremity of one of the vanes of Fig. 6 and the operating mechanism therefor;

Fig. 8 is a View in sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 8 8, Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of one of the vacuum cylinders or motors and vane-position indicators;

Fig, 10 is an electrical diagram for the control mechanism.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Fig. 1 is intended to represent a radio broadcasting studio. For the purposes of illustration, the studio is divided into three compartments, 5, 6 and 1. The compartments 5 and 'I are provided with a plurality of acoustical vanes or panels 8 and 9, the vanes 8 being pivoted centrally and rotated in a manner to be described, while the vanes 9 are pivoted adjacent one edge thereof With the opposite edge projecting free and, when closed, overlapping the adjacent vane. The walls in rear of both sets of vanes are provided with a sound-absorbing surface l0, ma which is adapted to be exposed varying degrees in accordance with the degree of opening and closing of the vanes 8 and 9. The vanes are constructed and arranged to have certain desirable resonating characteristics. One side or shell of the Vane may be made of 7-ply wood of the hard dense variety, while the other side or shell may be made up of 5-ply Wood which is relatively soft and porous. Thus, one side of the panel is rigid and resonant, while the other side is capable of absorbing a certain amount of sound.

The vanes when in closed position ,deine a Wall having a serrated or undulating contour which provides a sound-diffusing surface, and at which time also the edges of the vanes are brought into contact to vary their natural frequencies.

These vanes or panels are fully described and illustrated in my copending application above noted.

It is important that the vanes be capable of adjustment easily and quickly and with a minimum of noise, and the present invention provides a means whereby the vanes may be adjusted in this manner and at the same time avoid electrical disturbance or radio interference with respect to the broadcasting apparatus.

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 illustrate that portion of the studio compartment 5 in which the vanes 8 are mounted together with the operating mechanism therefor. At its upper end each vane is provided with a pivot stud Il which is mounted in a bearing bracket I2, while at its lower end each vane is provided with a shaft made up of sections I3, I3', the latter projecting through the floor I4 and at its lower end being journaled in a bearing I5 supported between frame members or stringers I6. Coacting with the bearing I5 is a thrust bearing including collar I1 and ball bearing unit I8.

A gear I9 is secured on the shaft I3'- above the collar I1, said gear meshing with drive gear xed on stub shaft 20a mounted in bearing 2l. A rack bar 22 extends along the line of shafts I3 and is mounted for reciprocation in bearings 23, said rack bar being provided with rack gears 24 adapted to mesh with gears I9 and 2l).

Since the vanes 8 are adapted when closed to have their edges contact and form a wall having a serrated or undulating contour (note Fig. l), each alternate vane rotates in a direction counter to its companion vane. Accordingly, each alternate vane is directly driven by gear I9.

In order to avoid danger of breakage and also to ensure quietness and smoothness in operation, the shaft section I3 for each vane connects with section I3 through coupling spring 25, note Fig. 3, which at one end is secured to shaft I3 by means of screw bolt 21 and at its opposite end to shaft I3 by screw bolt 28. By this means, when the vanes are rotated to fully closed or open position, or should they contact some immovable object, the spring 26 will take up the torsion and cushion the vane.

The primary motive or power means for opening and closing the vanes comprise vacuum cylinders or motors 3UI, Sli-2, 30--3, Sil- 4, note Fig. 9, in conjunction with Figs. 2 and 4, each vacuum cylinder or motor having a chamber 30a provided with valve ports 30h, 30e, 3th', and 30e', at opposite ends thereof, ports 39h, 38D serving to admit atmospheric air and ports 30a, 30e', vacuum pressure into chamber 39a. These ports are controlled by electric valves in a manner to be described. A piston 30d is mounted in chamber 30a and has connected thereto an arm 3| provided with a rack gear 32 in mesh with gear 33 secured on an upright or vertical shaft 34 which at its upper end is provided with an arm or link 35 pivotally connected to a link 33, the latter in turn being connected to the rack bar 22.

It will be seen that when the arm 3| reciprocates, rotation is imparted to the gear 33 through the rack gear 32. Gear 33, working through shaft 34 and links 35 and 3B, imparts reciprocation to the rack bar 22 carrying the rack gears 24 in mesh with the gears I9 and 20 secured to the shafts I3' and which latter shafts mount the vanes 8.

The vacuum cylinders or motors 30-I, Bil- 2, etc., are each mounted in a suitable compartment Within operative adjacency to the vanes and their coacting rack and gear mechanism. Fig. 4 illustrates the location of the vacuum cylinder 30-I. Below the floor I4 is a compartment 38, The stringers or frame members I5 are supported by a series of struts 39 between a pair of which is connected a supporting frame 49 on which is secured a mounting bracket 4I to which the vacuum cylinder 30--I is connected. The front of the compartment is closed by a wall 42 having 9. removable door or panel 43 therein providing access to the vacuum cylinder 3ll-l and other operating parts.

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 illustrate the preferred manner of operating the vanes 9 of Fig. l. Each of the vanes 9 is pivoted at its upper end in a bracket 45 connected to the ceiling frame structure of the compartment, the vane being provided with a pivot 49 having bearing in said bracket. At its lower end each of the vanes 9 is provided with a shaft 41 which projects through a supporting frame member 48, said shaft being provided with a thrust bearing 49 and a journal bearing 5U.

The lower end of the bearing 50 has threaded thereon a cap 5I, which is prevented from backing off by member 52.

The lower end of shaft 4l has connected thereto the one end of an arm 53, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to a link rod 54 which extends along the lower ends of the shafts 41 and is connected in a like manner to each shaft. The connection to the rod 54 is made through slot 55, whereby each arm 53 may be adjusted with respect to rod 54 to obtain the proper operating position with respect to each vane.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be noted that there is a link rod 54 extending from one corner of the studio along the base of each of the walls to which the vanes 9 are applied, the rod extending to the left in Fig. 6 being indicated at 54a. These rods are mounted to slide in suitable guide brackets and at their adjacent ends are each adjustably connected to levers 56 and 55a, the lever 5B being a bell crank lever to accommodate the mounting of the vacuum cylinders 30-3 and 30-4. Lever 55 is pivoted at 51 and lever 56a at 58. One end of the lever 56 is pivotally and adjustably connected to operating arm 59 of vacuum cylinder or motor 39-3, while one end of the lever 56a is connected in like manner to arm 59 of vacuum cylinder or motor 30-4.

The vacuum cylinders 383 and 30-4 are mounted in a compartment 6I, note Fig. 8, the arms 59 and 60 projecting through suitable packing 62 in wall 63 and into a wall compartment defined by frame structure 64 extending along the wall of the studio at the base of the line of vanes and which latter compartment houses the connecting rods 54 and co-acting linkage mechanism. In this instance it will be noted that the vanes are located well above the floor line and only occupy a portion of the wall of the studio. However, it will be obvious that they may be of any length desired and cover the entire wall. The vacuum cylinders 38-3 and 304 are supported at a suitable height by means of frame structure 65 and 66.

It will be seen that when the arms of the vacuum cylinders 39-3 and 30-4 are reciprocated, reciprocation is in turn imparted to the rods 54, 54a which operate through the arms 53 and shaft 41 to rotate the vanes 9.

By referring to Fig. 9, it will be noted that valve ports 39h, 36h and 38e, 30o are controlled by solenoid valves 61, 61 adapted to be moved to open and closed position by means of solenoids 61a, 61h or 61e, 61d, note also Fig. l0. Since these valves may be of any suitable type well known in the art, they are not illustrated in detail.

Each vacuum cylinder carries a potentiometer functioning as a voltage divider and including resistance unit G3. A sliding contact 69 is mounted to coact with the resistance unit and is connected by arm 89a with the main operating arm of the vacuum cylinder or motor. Thus, when the latter arm is reciprocated, the sliding contact 69 is moved backward and forward on the resistance unit to regulate the flow of curvrent to suitable indicatingfinstruments on the control board which give an accurate meter reading for all positions of the vanes controlled by the .vacuum cylinder in a manner to be explained.

Fig. l illustrates how the vacuum cylinders or motors may be supplied with suitable Vacuum pressure. A vacuum unit may be disposed in the basement or some other vsuitable compartment of the building in which the studio is located, said unit operating to maintain a constant vacuum in tank ll, the latter being connected through conduits 12, 12a, 12b with branch lines 12e, .12d leading to the respective vacuum cylinders, note also Fig. 9.

Fig. 10 illustrates an electrical diagram vfor vthe valve operating mechanism. The valves are preferably controlled from a central or common point, such as a suitable control desk or panel board bearing a series of operating keys 13a, 13b, 13e, 13d. These keys are connected into a switch operating relay circuit including solenoids 13a', 13b', 13e and 13d adapted to operate switches 14, 15, 1S, 11 forming part of `the circuit Vfor operating the solenoid valves 61a, k('lb, Gle, and 67d. The valve operating circuit may be supplied with direct current through a suitable rectifier, the latter being connected to 'the main line vthrough a master relay preferably operable from the control desk.

In following the operation of the apparatus, reference is had to Figs. 9 and 10 in conjunction with Figs. 1 and 2. The wiring diagram of Fig. 10 includes only two vacuum cylinders or motors, which are sufficient to illustrate the operation of the apparatus.

Assuming it is desired to operate the row of vanes along the left hand wall of Figs. 1 and 2 and which vanes are controlled by the vacuum cylinder or motor -l. ,To close the vanes, an operator at the control desk would depress the key 13d, bridging the circuit to the relay solenoid 13d', whereupon the switch 15 would be closed and current would flow through the main valve operating circuit to valve solenoid 61a, raising valve 61' clear of port 30e and closing port 30D and at the same time admitting vacuum pressure to the cylinder on one side of piston 30d, causing the latter and the arm connected thereto to be moved outwardly or to the right as viewed in Figs. 9, 10 and 2. In the position of the parts of Fig. 2, the vanes controlled by vacuum cylinder 30-l are closed. Should the operator desire to only partially close the vanes, they the key 13d Vmay be released at any time between fully open or fully closed position.

Should the vanes be in closed position and the operator desire to open the same, then the key 13c would be depressed, closing the circuit to the relay solenoid 13o', whereupon switch 14 will close and current will flow to the valve operating solenoid 1Gb, causing the arm of the vacuum cylinder 30--l to move to the left or inwardly as viewed in Figs. 9, 10 and 2.

Mounted on the control board are what may be termed vane meters, since they give a visual indication of the position of the vanes. These instruments operate on the principle of a voltmeter and are each electrically connected to the resistance unit 68 of the potentiometer or voltage divider carried by each vacuum cylinder, note Figs. 9 and l0. The indicator or sliding contact 69, being connected to arm 3| of piston 30d, regulates the ow of current through the coil of its t arm. A specialscale is preferably used on the vane meter ycalibrated in .degrees Lor .arbitrary numbers. .During rehearsals a director for other party in charge, after having found the most desirable position ofthe vanesfor Athat particular program or part of the program, :may mark the vane settings` down on a cue sheet, which may be easily followed by an yoperator during the broadcast.

Should any of the vanes stick or rotation thereof become impeded to the danger point, the springs 26 protect the 'vanes against damage. This is important, since the vanes are highly sensitive instruments and. relatively expensive in construction. I

The potential for the electrical circuits may be very low, a 15volt battery being 'sufiicient `under normal conditions for the relay or `control circuit and a potential of 32 volts being normally sufficient for the valve operating circuit. Thus, electrical apparatus which would cause sparking and other radio interference is substantially eliminated, not only adjacent the vanes but throughout the entire studio and its vicinity.

The operation of the vanesis cushioned at all times so that no noise or 4disturbance results during broadcasting of a program.

It Will be understood lthat certain changes in construction and design may be adopted without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Acoustical apparatus for radio broadcasting studios and analogous sound chambers, comprising a plurality of vanes, means movably mounting said vanes permitting them to be adjusted to open and closed and intermediate positions, a pneumatic motor located within operative adjacency to said vanes, means operatively connecting said motor to said vanes, and means for selectively controlling the operation of said motor to move said vanes to different positions of adjustment.

2. Acoustical apparatus for radio broadcasting studios and analogous sound chambers comprising a plurality of vanes, means pivotally mounting said vanes for rotation to open and closed and intermediate angular positions a fluid pressure motor mounted within operative adjacency to said vanes, means operatively connecting said motor to said vanes to effect rotation of the latter, a valve controlling the admission of uid to said motor, and means for selectively actuating said valve to thereby selectively control the angular positions of said vanes.

3. Acoustical apparatus for radio broadcasting studios and analogous sound chambers comprising a plurality of vanes, means pivotally mounting said vanes for rotation to open and closed positions, a Vacuum cylinder having a reciprocating operating member, means operatively connecting said member to said vanes, a valve controlling the admission of vacuum pressure into said cylinder, and means for selectively actuating said valve.

4. For use in a radio broadcasting studio, a plurality of acoustical vanes, shafts pivotally mounting said vanes for rotation to open and closed positions, a fluid pressure motor having a reciprocating operating member, a link rod common to said shafts, means connecting said link rod to said operating member and to said shafts, a valve controlling admission of fluid pressure into said cylinder to impart reciprocation to said operating member, and electrical means for selectively actuating said valve.

5. For use in a radio broadcasting studio, a plurality of acoustical vanes, shafts pivotally mounting said vanes adjacent a wall of the studio, a fluid pressure cylinder having a reciprocating operating member, a link rod extending along and common to said shafts, links connecting said rods with said shaft, a lever connecting said reciprocating member to said link rod, a valve controlling the admission of iluid pressure into said cylinder to impart reciprocation to said operating member and through the latter to said link rod, and electrical means for selectively actuating said Valve.

6. Acoustical apparatus for radio broadcasting studio and analogous sound chambers comprising a plurality of acoustical vanes, means pivotally mounting said vanes for rotation to open and closed position, power means for rotating said vanes, and a resilient coupling interposed in said mounting means.

7. Apparatus for radio broadcasting studios and analogous sound chambers comprising a plurality of acoustical vanes, a shaft pivotally mounting each of said vanes, power means operatively connected to said shaft for imparting rotation to the latter, and a resilient coupling interposed in said shaft to avoid damage to and cushion the action of said vanes.

8. Acoustical apparatus for radio broadcasting studios and analogous sound chambers comprising a plurality of acoustical vanes, a shaft pivotally mounting each of said vanes, pneumatic power means having an operative connection with said shafts for imparting rotation to said vanes, and a resilient coupling operatively associated with said shaft and coacting with said pneumatic power means to provide a quiet cushioned operating means for said vanes.

9. Acoustical apparatus for radio broadcasting studios and analogous sound chambers comprising a plurality of acoustical vanes, means pivotally mounting said vanes adjacent the Wall o! the studio, pneumatic power means operatively connected to said vanes for rotating the latter to open and closed positions, a source of uid pressure, electric valves operatively associated with said pneumatic power means for admitting fluid pressure to the latter, a 10W potential electric circuit for operating said electric valve including one or more relay switches, and an electric operating circuit including relays for selectively operating said switches to in turn selectively operate said valves.

CLARENCE R. JACOBS. 

